Chapter 385

"Kitakami-kun."

Barely managing to keep her expression natural, Aoyama Nanami secretly took a deep breath through her nose.

"You're back early today. Have you eaten yet?"

Kitakami Yoru said casually, then walked toward their home together.

"Not yet. It's getting late, though. What about you, Kitakami-kun?"

Aoyama Nanami tilted her head to look at Kitakami Yoru, feeling curious.

Back so late?

Was he on a date with another girl?

"Want to go out and grab a bite?"

Kitakami Yoru looked up at the sky.

The sun hadn't set yet.

"Huh? Go out to eat together?"

"With me?"

Upon hearing this, Aoyama Nanami exclaimed in surprise, her reaction far too intense.

"Nanami, what's wrong with you?"

Kitakami Yoru wore a strange expression, looking Aoyama Nanami up and down.

She still looked just as cute and pretty; nothing had changed.

It was just a meal, was there any need to be so surprised?

"No... it's nothing... I was just thinking about the audition assembly and got distracted..."

"Sorry, sorry."

Realizing something was off, Aoyama Nanami brought out her trump card as an excuse.

Sure enough, Kitakami Yoru didn't have a shred of suspicion and continued to comfort and encourage her.

"I've learned how to lie too, huh..."

Having escaped a crisis, Aoyama Nanami secretly breathed a sigh of relief, hesitating over whether to accept Kitakami Yoru's invitation.

Going out for dinner and such.

Is it really okay?

"What's the deal with those other girls?"

"Could Kitakami-kun also be..."

Once this thought crossed her mind, Aoyama Nanami's breathing felt as if it had frozen; far from being angry, she felt a sense of joy.

Kitakami Yoru still thought Aoyama Nanami was pondering something important, so he didn't rush her.

However, this matter was indeed quite important.

Little did he know the twists and turns inside the young girl's mind before him.

"Are we going or not?"

"We'll be back after dinner, it won't take too long."

Seeing the apartment in the distance, Kitakami Yoru lightly patted Aoyama Nanami's shoulder to ask.

"Then... then let's go."

Aoyama Nanami was still happy to have dinner with Kitakami Yoru.

"Alright, take a shower, change your clothes, how about we head out at seven?"

Kitakami Yoru proposed.

"You arrange it."

Aoyama Nanami had no objections.

The two parted ways at the apartment stairs.

Kitakami Yoru hummed a tune as he walked back, not noticing that Aoyama Nanami kept watching his back.

"Sansan, I'm back."

After changing his shoes, Kitakami Yoru walked inside.

The best dietary habit for cats is small, frequent meals.

But Kitakami Yoru feeding it twice a day was fine too.

"Meow..."

Sansan was sprawled on the sofa, licking its fur and ignoring Kitakami Yoru.

He showered, washed his hair, and changed his clothes.

Grabbing his wallet and phone, Kitakami Yoru went to find Aoyama Nanami first.

"Which one would Kitakami-kun like me to wear?"

"Is this outfit pretty?"

The young girl, who unilaterally believed she was going on a date, applied light makeup and fretted over picking through her limited wardrobe.

To avoid making Kitakami Yoru wait too long, Aoyama Nanami finally chose a black knitted turtleneck sweater.

It was cold at night.

"Kept you waiting, didn't I?"

Pushing the door open, Aoyama Nanami observed Kitakami Yoru's reaction.

"Not at all, let's go."

Kitakami Yoru tilted his head to signal, dressed very simply and casually.

Mostly because he was super handsome and good-looking; he wouldn't look ugly even in a fertilizer bag.

Walking side-by-side obediently, Kitakami Yoru and Aoyama Nanami arrived at the station and rode for three stops.

They arrived at a nearby commercial district.

The station was packed with people.

"So many people, they're all tourists."

In Tokyo, mid-September to mid-November is the red maple leaf season.

Although not as famous as the cherry blossom season, there were still plenty of visitors.

"Hold my hand?"

With people pushing and shoving, Kitakami Yoru noticed Aoyama Nanami's difficulty and reached out his hand to suggest.

The girl's heart trembled; she stiffly reached out her small hand and let Kitakami Yoru lead her out of the station.

Her hand was quite white and soft, supple and smooth, extremely comfortable.

"Kitakami-kun's hand."

Kitakami Yoru didn't think much of it, but Aoyama Nanami was incredibly happy and nervous.

As soon as they exited the station, Kitakami Yoru immediately let go.

"Let's walk around, what do you want to eat for dinner?"

Kitakami Yoru was not short on money.

"You decide."

Putting the small hand Kitakami Yoru had held behind her back, Aoyama Nanami replied while distracted.

They walked around the vicinity.

They chose an affordable buffet sushi restaurant, a well-known chain brand.

When Kitakami Yoru said he was treating, he meant it; they wouldn't split the bill.

Sitting across from each other, drinking a special matcha iced beverage, he stared straight at Aoyama Nanami.

It made the girl feel flustered and confused; just as she opened her mouth to ask, Kitakami Yoru beat her to it.

"Nanami, you're dressed very beautifully tonight..."

Kitakami Yoru maintained a faint smile on his face throughout.

50: Anything is fine.

Aoyama Nanami's body stiffened, her eyes blinking rapidly, showing how surprised and excited she was.

"Really? Th... thank you..."

"Nanami, you place the order."